New Delhi: Shubman Gill-led India are currently locking horns with Zimbabwe in the 1st T20I of the five-match series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. Three players will be making their T20I debut for India in the series opener as Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel were all named in the playing XI.
All three players will be featuring in a T20I game for India for the first time. While Abhishek and Parag earned their maiden India call-up for the Zimbabwe series, Jurel has already played Test cricket for India. He was one of the standout performers for the hosts during the England Test series at home earlier this year.
The trio was rewarded for their impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Parag enjoyed a breakout campaign for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 as he finished as the third-highest run-getter of the season with 573 runs from 16 matches at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21.
Parag is the first player from Assam to make his debut for India in international cricket and will be hoping to make the most of his chances in the series. Abhishek, who made heads turn with his explosive batting for SRH, finished IPL 2024 with 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26 and a brilliant strike rate of 204.21.
He will be opening the batting with skipper Gill in the 1st T20I and will be looking to replicate his IPL 2024 heroics in the series. Jurel, who has already proved his credentials in Test cricket for India, managed only 195 runs in IPL 2024 but has the potential to become a genuine finisher in the shortest format going forward.
India opt to bowl in 1st T20I
Indian skipper Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first in the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. India named a strong XI despite missing the senior players and regulars, who have been given a well-deserved rest after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. Gill & Co. will be looking to get off to a winning start and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
India’s playing XI:
Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed
Three players are making their T20I debut for India in the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Saturday. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel will be playing their 1st T20I match for the Men in Blue. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
